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Quarter of Britons have cut back on the amount of meat they eat in the past year

Tue, 11/26/2013 - 15:14

United Kingdom

Only two per cent of people have increased their meat consumption this year.
One in three considering eating less while a quarter have put it into action.
Processed food most likely to get the chop in the wake of horsemeat scandal.

A quarter of Britons have cut back on the amount of meat they eat over the past year, according to research. Ready meals and processed meats are most likely to be off the menu, according to the survey by YouGov. Only 2% say they have increased their meat consumption in the last year.

The survey found around one in three say they are willing to consider eating less meat, with a quarter saying they have already cut back on the amount of meat they eat over the last year.

Environmental alliance Eating Better, which commissioned the YouGov survey, says that the results show a "generational shift in British diet" as people consume less meat and remain wary of ready meals and processed meat after the famous horse meat scandal this year.

Concern for animal welfare topped the reasons for considering eating less meat, ahead of saving money and food quality or safety and health issues.

| Animal welfare was the most popular reason cited by those cutting back on meat |

Young people, aged 18-24, were nearly 3 times more likely to say they don’t eat any meat at all – compared to the survey’s average – with one in six of them saying they are vegetarian.

Despite rising food prices, around half those surveyed said they would be willing to pay more for ‘better’ meat if it tastes better, is healthier, produced to higher animal welfare standards or provides better financial returns to farmers.